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Despite a cool shooting performance and facing an eight-point deficit in the second quarter, Beech Grove capped a dream season with a 53-43 victory over No. 2-ranked Mishawaka Marian in the Class 3A state championship game.

Coach Mike Renfro’s Hornets hit only 18-of-50 (26 percent) from the floor, but used a 37-23 rebounding advantage and outscored the Knights, 12-3, at the free throw line to claim the school’s first state title.

Marian held a 20-12 lead in the second quarter, then opened the third quarter with a 6-2 spurt to hold a 28-22 lead with 5:44 left in the quarter. Beech Grove (22-6) then scored the next 12 points and never lost the lead.

The Knights (24-4) did come back to forge a 36-36 tie early in the fourth, but the Hornets finished the game on a 17-6 run, hitting their last six shots from the field.

Junior Anthony Ball led Beech Grove with 17 points and keyed the rebounding advantage with a whopping 20 total. Cameron Brown added 13 points and Jeremiah Tate 12 for the winners. Tate's nine steals were the most in any state championship game since the category has been tracked since 1977.

Coach Robb Berger’s Knights were led by Richard Brooks with 13 points and Deaglan Sullivan added 10.

Class 3A State Championship Records

Most Steals: 9 by Jeremiah Tate, Beech Grove (*most steals in any state championship game since category began in 1977)

Fewest Points Allowed: 43 by Beech Grove

Mishawaka Marian’s Richard Brooks named Trester Award winner
Following today’s game, the IHSAA Executive Committee named Richard Brooks of Marian High School as the recipient of the Arthur L. Trester Mental Attitude Award presented by the Indiana Pacers and Indiana Fever.

The award is annually presented to a senior, who is nominated by his principal and coach, and has demonstrated excellence in mental attitude, scholarship, leadership and athletic ability during his four years of high school.

Brooks is a member of the National Honor Society and when he graduates this spring, he will have accumulated more than a semester’s worth of college credits while enrolled in many dual credit and Advanced Placement courses. He has also played on the Knights’ football team.

He is the son of Richard and Tonya Brooks of South Bend, IN. He would like to study Pre-Dentistry but is undecided on his college choice.

The Indiana Pacers and Indiana Fever, presenting sponsors of the IHSAA Boys Basketball State Tournament, presented a $1,000 scholarship to the general scholarship fund at Marian High School in the name of Richard Brooks.

The 4A, 3A and 2A awards are named in honor of the late Arthur L. Trester who served as first commissioner of the Association from 1929 to 1944. Trester helped Indiana high school sports and the IHSAA emerge from the Great Depression in a position of preeminence unmatched by perhaps any other state in the nation.